MAIL TRIBUNE, MdW,Or."
nlpes
Hopes for saving the his
toric Britt property in Jack
sonville from oblivion have
taken a turn for the brighter.
The newly-formed Jackson
county parks and recreation
commission appears interest
ed in its acquisition as a
county park area.
The county court has re
ceived no formal recommen
dation from the commission
Ht fr. But last week's land-(fftfft-P
offer from Southern
CCftgon college, which owns
(t property at present, is be
(tapji studied.
r. Elmo Stevenson, SOC
(ftfsident, told the commis
(spn last Wednesday the col
(ltf would trade the Britt
3iuse and gardens for 5 or 10
(Darfe near the Howard Prai
t reservoir.
(Iand Use Exchange
He has since explained the
swap would not be an out
right switch of ownership but
rather a long-term "land use"
exchange.
This proposal provides a
new wrinkle for those who
have followed the Britt prop
erty's wavering fortunes and
wondered at its fate. Last
month, Dr. Stevenson had
stated the college was consid
ering putting it up once more
for bids.
Should the county decide
to acquire the property, eith
er by land-swap or by actual
purchase through public bid
ding, the Siskiyou Pioneer
Sites foundation could
breathe easier.
Met with Frustration
The foundation has met
with frustration so far in its
efforts to raise private funds
for purchasing the property
from SOC to restore it as a
historical monument.
f SOC came by the property
as residuary legatee to the es
tate of Miss Mollie Britt,
daughter of Peter Britt, pio-
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Sunday, June 2T, 1939
IFir SdVDimg
BRITT HOME - The fire April 29, 1957,
that gutted part of the house built by Peter
Britt, pioneer photographer, nearly 100
year ago has made the property more than
neer photographer. Miss Britt
died Oct. 14, 1954, in the
house her father had started
building in 1860.
Under her will, the house
with its rare sky-lighted stu
dio and the interesting gar
dens were offered first to the
Southern Oregon Historical
society on condition they be
maintained as a museum and
memorial to her father. The
society, noting that the will
would provide a $25,000
maintenance fund only if It
were. matched dollar for dol-
Month
CYCLE fir
HOBBY SHOP
SP 2-2477
lar, passed up the responsi
bility. " The city of Jacksonville re
portedly declined it" as well.
Pass to. SOC
And so, while the histori
cal society has since salvaged
Britt's photographic equip
ment and "hundreds of pic
tures, as well as furniture and
other antiques, the house and
grounds themselves passed to
SOC.
The college for a short time
retained a gardener to keep
the grounds in shape. But his
salary, reportedly $350 or
$400 a month, was considered
too great an expense.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jones
were then employed as care
takers. Jones, in return for
housing for his family under
the Britt roof was simply in
Dr. Stevenson's words "to
keep it (the property) from
going to rack and ruin." .
Twice SOC tried to dispose
of it through calls for public
bidding. On both occasions, it
is understood, no acceptable
offer was received.
Structure Damaged V
Then, on'Aprli 29, 1957, a
flue fire fanned by high
winds gutted the studio and
other second floor rooms.
Flames, smoke and water
damage together destroyed an
estimated 50 per cent of the
structure.
Scorched, roofless and thus
a prey to wind and rain as
well, the Britt house after the
fire was more than ever a
white elephant" for the college-
The sites foundation, led
by Mrs. Dwight Houghton of
Medford and other members,
has maintained a watchdog
interest in the property's
fate. Hoping at first to re
store the house itself, some
members more recently ad
mitted with reluctance that
this would be : impractical.
Their sights were lowered to
a plan for acquiring and
maintaining just the gardens,
with the house, or at least its
damaged partis, to be razed
or restored as a shell only.
Money Stumbling Block
Money, however, has been
the - stumbling block. The
foundation offered last year
to lease the property at $1 a
year for 99 years and to set
about its rehabilitation. But
the state board of higher edu
cation, to which SOC must
refer for final authority,
turned this down.
Dr. Stevenson last month
announced the college was
planning to place the Britt
property once more on the
selling bloc. He then report
erly agreed to a postpone
ment until a "propitious"
time.
Don Lewis, SOC business
manager, said the state board
had asked that bids be called
only if the college received
written expressions of inter-
est in bidding. None had been
received.
The appointment of nine
members for the county
parks and recreation commis
sion May 21 spurred the coun
ty into the picture.
Talk of Buying
There was some talk that
the foundation might raise
the estimated $2,000 neces
sary, buy the property and
then turn It over to the coun
ty for maintenance. But in
view of the difficulty in get
ting donations, an outright
purchase by the county from
budgeted funds is considered
more plausible.
Should the .county decide
to make the purchase, it
would, according to Lewis,
have to take its chances in
submitting a sealed bid.
"We'd have to follow the let
Entt
ever a "white elephant" for its present own
er, Southern Oregon college. Britt's former
studio on the left now has two skylights,
one of glass and the other .of charred wood.
ter of the law," Lewis said,
meaning the property would
go to the highest bidder re
gardless of who it might be
or for what purpose the prop
erty might be wanted.
The commission included
the Britt property in a tour
of potential park sites June
10. Dr. Frank Haines, presi
dent of the foundation, com
mented last Thursday that ac
quisition by the county would
be "the best possible develop
ment." Dr. Haines said that
at this time the foundation
had shifted its money-raising
efforts to another Jackson
ville project . more .suitable
for restoration.
Gleam of Hope
If the county should decide
against acquiring the Britt
property, Dr. Haines said, the
foundation would certainly
discuss the matter further.
But for the time being at
least the county's interest
provides the only real gleam
of hope, for the property's
future.
The maintenance of the
house and gardens mean
while has been a subject of
discussion as well.
"We have been instructed
by, the state board's-, office
to spend no money on the
place," Lewis reported Fri
day: V
The $25,000 in , matching
funds for maintenance, in
Miss Britt's proposed legacy
to the historical society has
all been spent on SOC's Britt
Student Center, according to
Lewis and Dr. Stevenson.
SOC after all, Lewis said,
is "in the education business"
not the business' of historical
restoration.
No Purpose Seen
As for replacing the fire
charred roof of the house for
protection against the ele
ments, Lewis commented,
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4-H Club News
Ruch Woolies
The Ruch Woolies held
their sixth meeting at the
home of Lynda Bettencourt,
June 13.
Richard Bottger gave a re
port on the different kinds of
sheep.
We decided that we would
have a swimming party June
23 at Twin Plunges. We will
leave at 11 and return at 6
p.m. Billy Deter came to
visit.
Mrs. Bettencourt served re
freshments. Lelah Mae Deter,
Reporter.
The Griffin Creek Dairy
club met June 11 at the home
of Marthanne Goodwin on
Marshall ave.
The meeting was called to
order by President Steve
Clark. The minutes were read
by our secretary, Bonnie
Brantley. In order of busi
ness, Judy Nelson gave a
demonstration on showman
ship.; The meeting adjourned
and refreshments were
served.
The next meeting will be
held at the home of Russell
Fields on Jacksonville high
way, July 9 at 7:30 pan..
Marthanne Goodwin,
Reporter.
"there sems to be no purpose
in putting one on." He added
that there did not appear to
be much to protect. Besides,
he said, the college had hoped
the sites foundation might ac
quire the place and put on a
new roof itself.
Fred Jones and his wife
have continued as caretakers
since the fire, living in the
rear of the house. "We don't
expect them to do much,
frankly," Lewis said.
Jones, a cabinet-maker,
has remodeled his family's
quarters in the house, made
a front gate, effected some
utilities improvements and
constructed a stone terrace
in the rear, among other
things. The Joneses have con
verted a vacant lot across
the street to a vegetable gar
den. Jones maintains a consid
erable quantity and variety
of woodworking tools and
materials about the premises,
and does a certain amount of
work for customers or friends
in the valley. He has express
ed an. interest, incidentally,
in acquiring the Britt prop
erty himself if he could raise
the money.
Occasional Purchases
With respect to equipment
for maintaining the gardens
surrounding the house, Lewis
said, "We buy them some
stuff occasionally." He men
tioned a hose and sprinkler.
"He hasn't asked for much
and we haven't given him
much," Dr. Stevenson said of
Jones. "He can requisition it
and we'd give it to hm." Per
haps, he admitted, the college
could have gone further.
1 Dr. Haines described Jones'
gardening as "erratic," and
commented: "He hasn't killed
anything."
Lewis said he thought the
gardens were "in pretty good
shape this spring."
'l ean see no one having
any criticism on the care of
the grounds," he added.
Some shrubbery appears to
have suffered from over
pruning. The difveway is in
poor repair. Generally, how
ever, while the gardens are
hardly "neat as a pin" they
do reflect definite efforts.
w
REGAL
GOLD HILL
Church To Be
By MRS. CLYDE KELL
Gold Hill Officials of the
Gold Hill Community Metho
dist church at the corner of
Fourth st. and Fourth ave.,
have announced that the
church will be painted in
July.
Ladders, spray guns and
brushes will be needed and
persons who wish to volun
teer the use of these items or
their services in scraping and
preparing the surface, and
the actual painting project,
may contact Ferd Jones,
chairman of the board of the
church.
Mrs. Sam Jones played a
selection on her accordion for
the music portion of the Sun
day school hour June 14, at
the Gold Hill Community
Methodist church. E. R.
Griggs furnished a vocal
number accomplished by his
electric guitar.
During the worship serv
ice on that date, Mrs. Jones
accompanied the congrega
tion with her accordion in the
adsence of the church organ
ist, Mrs. John Bruce. A pi
ana solo was played by Miss
Marie Jones as a special se
lection. Miss Rose Drake, who is
serving in the medical corps
of the Woman's Air Force at
Sheppard Air Force Base,
Texas, has been promoted
from third class to second
class. Miss Drake is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Everett Drake, Lazy Acres
motel, north of Gold Hill- She
graduated from Crater Lake
school with the class of 1957.
Mr. and Mrs. Volney Bald
win of Spokane, Wash., were
guests, June 11 at the home
of his aunt, Mrs. Minnie By
erly, Sixth ave.
Mr. and Mrs; Harry Newn
ham, Gold Hill, and Mr. and
Mrs. Veltie Biles left for
Orange, Calif., Saturday,
June 13. The Newnhams will
he housesuests at the home
of his sister, Mrs. Alice Mor
ris, while there, ana visit
other relatives in that area.
The Biles will go on to San
Diago, Cahf., where they will
visit their son, Jim Biles, who
is in the Navy.
The Governor brothers will
start construction of the new
home of Mr. and Mrs. Stan
ley Newnham, sometime this
week. Mrs. Newnham said
The new residence will be lo
cated at the corner of Second
st. and Fourth ave. in Gold
Hill.
Miss Terry Turner and her
brothers, Mike, Bobby and
Randy Turner left June 10
for Torrence, Calif., where
they will be guests several
weeks at the home of their
father, George Turner.
MAY TAKE CRUISE
Paris-(DPD -Newly married
French actress Brigitte Bar-
dot may spend part of her
honeymoon cruising the Med
iterranean on a yacht, in
formed sources said yester
day. The "Sex Kitten," who
married actor Jacques Char-
rier, went into seclusion with
her 'groom in her Paris apart
ment after the wedding
Thursday, but there were re
ports the newlyweds planned
to leave soon for a cruise on
producer Raoul Levy's yacht.
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Painted
Arriving Thursday, June
11, from Spokane, Wash., for
a four-day visit at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Ross
and , children, Glenda and
Dickie, were his cousin, Mrs.
Louise Williams, her daugh
ter, Miss Connie Williams,
Mrs. Bud Williams Jr., and
infant daughter, Jackie, and
a family friend, Miss Marilyn
Smith.
Coming here Friday, June
12, from San Francisco,
where he is on duty with the
U.S. Navy, was Bud Williams
Jr. He visited at the Ross
home until Monday, with his
wife, and little girl, who had
come from Spokane with his
mother, Mrs. -Louise Wil
liams Sr.
Mrs. Fred Butler and
daughter, Miss Joycelyn But
ler, of New York city were
guests at the home of Mrs.
Butler's niece and family, Mr.
and Mrs. Lester Parker, and
daughter, Lindo, on Lamp
man road from Wednesday,
June 10, until Monday, June
16. .
Mrs. Parker had not seen
her aunt for 30 years. The
Parkers took their guests to
several of southern Oregon's
scenic spots including Crater
lake, Diamond lake, and the
Oregon caves, as well as the
Jacksonville museum. .
Glenda Doss was honored
at a party on her eighth birth
day, June 12, given by her
mother, Mrs. Darrell Ross at
the Ross home on Highway
99 north.
Guests included two sets of
twin sisters, , Cheresse and
Clerisse Offutt of Central
Point and Janice and John
Czmowski of Gold Hill. Oth
er guests were Patty and
Larry Washburn, Kenneth
Maerz, Bobby and Patty
Boye,' Donald Arnold, Bar
bara Jean Morris, Betty Bird
song, Trudy Brown, Billy
Smith, Teresa Brown, Jimmie
Martin, Mrs. Louise Williams,
Mrs. Bud Williams and in
fant daughter, Jackie, Miss
Connie Williams and Miss
Marilyn Smith, all of Spo
kane, Wash. '
Assisting Mrs. Ross with
the party was Mrs. Jack
Arnold, Mrs. Vernon Czmow
ski, and Mrs. Jack Cline, all
of Gold Hill.
. Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Ross
and children, Glenda and
Dickie, took their house
guest from Spokane, Mrs.
Louise Williams, Mrs. Bui
Williams Jr., and daughter,
Jackie, Miss Marilyn Smith
and Miss Connie Williams,
to the coast Monday, June 15,
(oun
UDay
Today's the day we try to show Dad how much we appre
ciate all the things he does for us all year round. Today
Dad is King . . . and he deserves every one of those "Happy
Father's Day" wishes. Dad works hard for the. family . . .
to be sure they'll always be safe and secure . . . andhavt
all the things they really want. That's why so many dad'
provide for the family future with a JACKSON COUNTY
FEDERAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT. Dad knows the family
savings earn more at Jackson County Federal . . . tndl fie
knows the Jackson County Federal savings account if
safe. Your family will like saving at Jackson County
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it DOES make a difference
WHERE you Save!
Oacfam
SAVINGS
126 East Main
where they visited the trees
of mystery and scenic spots
at Crescent and Brookings.
Mrs. Roy Eskew and
daughter, Donna, attended
graduation exercises at Ore
gon State college on Monday,
June 8. Among the gradu
ates was the -Eskew's son,
Jerry Eskew. He was a stu
dent of engineering in the
field of production technol
ogy. Mr; and Mrs. Douglas Ness
and son, Buddy, who have
been residing in Klamath
Falls while he attended OTI,
have moved to Medford
where he is employed at Rob
erts Motor Co. He is a grad
uate of OTI. Mrs. Ness is the
The 17th KMED
Mrs. Barbara Miller, 704 S. Newtown, receives 1.3
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Miller correctly identified the KMED Mystery Memory
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ATION
former Beth Eskey, daugh
ter of the Roy Eskews.
Miss Donna Eskew, a stu
dent in education at Southern
Oregon college in Ashland
has completed her junior
year. She will reside in Gold
Hill during the summer
months with her parents
while she has employment in
Medford.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Eskew,
Donna, and Mr. and Mrs.
Douglas Ness and son, Bud
dy, have returned to their
homes after attending the
Rose Parade on Saturday,
June 13, in Portland and the
wedding of their son, Jerry.
Eskew, which took place on
Sunday in Portland.
Winner . .
5.
1)
i
Medford
el
o